Quad Strengthens Democracies

The evolution of Quad in the present situation from a level of joint Secretaries meeting to a summit is a befitting reply to China’s aggressive tactics and its expansionist policies for making a global balance by exhibiting posturing and signalling through synergy of four nations. China’s relations have nose dived with India, USA, Australia and Japan owing to its misadventure with these nations in recent times. In general, the whole world including NATO countries are too much annoyed with China after experiencing trauma of COVID-19 onslaught originated from Wuhan which spread its wings in the world either knowingly or accidentally.

Under Xi Jinping, China is following its expansionist policy very vigorously which is clearly evident in India and Taiwan in the form of a concerted move. However, both the countries had not left any stone unturned while giving a befitting reply to China. Similarly, in the South China Sea, the USA had recently sent its three war ships of its fleet to withstand the onslaught of China where interests of Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and Philippines are in danger owing to their territorial disputes there with China. Recently, the US-backed Philippines in a new standoff with Beijing in the disputed South China Sea, has asked a Chinese fishing flotilla to leave a reef. China ignored the call , indicating that it owns the offshore territory.

Even in Indian Ocean, China wants to make an artificial island near Maldives to install its missiles against Bharat. However, the US had deployed its B-2 stealth bombers there against China’s misadventure. Through the repressive methods, against the will of the people of Hong Kong, China passes the controversial National Security Law. However, the violent protest of its residents has continued unabated since July 2019.

In the Indian context, the trigger point for escalation of disharmony with China was its aggression in Ladakh and Indian Ocean. The deterioration of Australia-China bi-lateral relations happened fast after Australia called for an international independent inquiry into the origins of the COVID-19 disease, though the relations started becoming sore between them owing to the growing influence of China in Australian Society, Universities and media. Recently, US admiral Aquilino said Australian relationship with China has been strained owing to aforesaid reasons along with its opposition to China’s illegal, unfounded territorial and maritime claims in the South China Sea. Sino- Japanese relations have undergone a history of long wars in the past with the continuance of blow hot-blow cold sort of attitudes between the two countries. The two nations are having a lot of territorial disputes between them. The latest point of conflict is on Diaoyu islands in the East China Sea.

The US-China conflict originates from the rivalry of both the countries to play a role of chauvinist and superpower in the world affairs which has led them to follow a war-like situation in the South China Sea where interests of Southeast Asian countries namely Brunei, Cambodia, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines are involved. US President Joe Biden told the leaders of the coalition that a free and open Indo-Pacific region is essential to these countries and that his country was committed to working with its partners and allies in the region to achieve stability. Now the alliance of four Quad countries against the common enemy China have been able to form a stumbling block to safeguard their interests.

The war calendar up to 2050, on six fronts, has been drawn by XI’s China which includes unification of Taiwan, reconquest of Spratly Islands (the disputed islands in South China Sea), reconquest of Southern Tibet, reconquest of disputed Diaoyu and Ryukyu Islands, unification of Outer Mongolia and taking back the lands lost to Russia.

As far as India’s participation in Quad is concerned, the latest firm approach of the present Government and the anticipated support from the Quad countries, China had to backtrack from its initial aggressive instincts as are witnessed through the 11th round of commander level talks. After the just concluded Quad virtual summit, the way Global Times, the mouthpiece of Chinese Government, is reacting, it confirms its frustration on the solidarity exhibited by the four nations against China and its aggression. The narrative of Indian PM Shri Narendra Modi about “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” concept has really impressed the world powers which could be further linked to his approach in supplying the COVID-19 vaccines to the whole world so generously. Rather, Bharat has emerged as one of the leading players in fighting the Corona pandemic by having a world-class pharmaceutical industry to the extent that the USA has just now placed orders on Bharat to manufacture billions of vaccines here.

For establishing stability in the Indo-Pacific region, the formation of Quad is an appropriate step to contain China’s nefarious designs. Its successful continuation in future lies with sustained pressure mounting on China for containing its sinister designs wherein India can play a very big role in it. Unlike the Narendra Modi Government, the earlier Governments in India were lacking in this mission

Though, many friendly countries expressed their views for widening the size of Quad by encompassing more countries in it to have a NATO-sort of military alliance, Indian Foreign Minister, during a National Leadership Conclave arranged by AIMA had categorically ruled out.

The survival of democracy in the world lies with the suppression of Communism for which a weak China is the need of the hour which is expected with the anticipated disintegration of China in near future on the lines of erstwhile USSR with the existence of Quad like alliances in the world arena in near future.